The Alonzo Mourning affordable housing initiative reached a meaningful milestone with the opening of Astoria on 9th, a new senior housing community in Bradenton, Florida.
Developed through a partnership between Miami-based Housing Trust Group and AM Affordable Housing—a nonprofit co-founded by Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning—the project is part of an ongoing mission to bring comfort, stability, and dignity to older adults needing affordable housing, Business Observer noted.
Mourning, who joined local leaders and residents at the ribbon-cutting event, spoke about his lifelong commitment to giving back. “These are not just apartments,” he said. “They’re homes.”
A lasting vision behind Alonzo Mourning affordable housing
Alonzo Mourning has been more than a basketball icon—he has become a force for change in communities across Florida. After rising from foster care to becoming a Miami Heat legend and NBA Hall of Famer, Mourning turned his success into a platform to serve others.
Since 2006, he and his nonprofit have worked with Housing Trust Group to build ten affordable housing communities. Astoria on 9th is the latest, created with both design and dignity in mind.
“Progress is something I’ve been about my whole life,” Mourning said at the event. “Trying to position myself in order to be of service to the community.”
Inside Astoria on 9th: senior housing with care and beauty
Located at 2244 Ninth St. W., Astoria on 9th offers 120 one- and two-bedroom apartments for people aged 55 and older.
The five-story building features units from 635 to just over 900 square feet, with rents ranging from $322 to $1,316 per month—making it a vital option for those living on fixed incomes.
To qualify, residents must earn at or below 22%, 30%, or 60% of the area median income.
This makes the community one of the few senior housing options in the area that remain truly affordable.
Residents can access thoughtful amenities: a cyber café with a catering kitchen and bar, a fitness center, clubhouse, dog park, and support programs like adult literacy training, housekeeping help, and shopping assistance.
Why Alonzo Mourning affordable housing matters now more than ever
As Mourning explained, there’s an urgent need for projects like this across the country.
“There’s a shortage of 7 million affordable housing [units] across our country,” he said. “This shortage disproportionately affects certain groups: our seniors, people with disabilities, people of color [and] people that are serving our armed forces.”
That shortage is deeply felt in places like Manatee County, where rising costs are pushing more seniors toward housing insecurity.
Local leaders praised Astoria on 9th for its affordability, design, and long-term stability.
Dignity through design: A resident’s story
Wayne Nappi, 68, became homeless after losing his interior design job and then his home to a hurricane. He learned about Astoria on the 9th from a social worker living in Sarasota motels.
Now a resident, Nappi said the experience of moving into the community has been life-changing.
As a former interior designer, Nappi said he could see how much thought went into how Astoria on 9th was built.
From the architecture and artwork to the way each space was designed, he felt the entire community reflected care, respect, and dignity for its residents.
What stood out most to him was how the environment made people feel—like someone truly cared enough to create a beautiful and welcoming place for them to call home.
His words reflect the heart of the Alonzo Mourning affordable housing mission—to ensure people have a roof over their heads and feel valued and safe.
Building community through collaboration
Astoria on 9th was made possible through a powerful team effort. Housing Trust Group worked alongside AM Affordable Housing, general contractor Hennessy Construction, FK Architecture, Hamilton Engineering & Surveying, and Builders Design.
“This development didn’t happen by chance,” said Housing Trust Group COO Jordan Tolman. “It happened because of purposeful collaboration, steadfast leadership, and a shared vision.”
The Bradenton site is the fourth affordable housing community built in the area by the firm, following Riverview6, The Oaks at Lakeside, and The Addison.
All are within a five-mile radius, a sign of the company’s growing investment in local housing solutions.
A mix of support makes it possible
Funding for Astoria on 9th came from a blend of public and private sources.
This included a $19 million loan from Fifth Third Bank, over $17 million in tax credit equity, and millions in state, federal, and county contributions—including support from the Bradenton Community Redevelopment Agency.
Florida Housing Finance Corporation also provided special funding to help with rising construction costs.
In exchange for these investments, the property will remain affordable housing for at least 50 years.
Tolman explained that once the team receives tax credits for the development, they sell those credits to raise the funds needed to build.
They agree to keep the apartments affordable for many years in return for that support.
The Alonzo Mourning affordable housing initiative continues to shape communities by combining heart, strategy, and impact.
With Astoria on 9th, the project proves that senior housing can be both affordable and beautiful—and that people like Mourning, a Miami Heat legend, are using their influence to leave a legacy of compassion.
“This is what progress looks like,” Mourning said. “These are homes.”
Watch how the Alonzo Mourning affordable housing project came to life at the Astoria on the 9th opening in Bradenton—video below:
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